Counter for dispensing apparatus.



L. E, BAKER.

COUNTER FOR DISPENSING APPARATUS APPLICATION FILED DEC; l1 195.

Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

\\i\\ i nk p 2 SHEETS-SHEET IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNE YS i VITNESSES a-s' wr will -4 L. E. BAKER. COUNTER FOR DISPENSING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED DEC. H. 1915.

1,286,200. I Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WINVENTOR.

A TTORNE YS.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

LINNAEUS E. BAKER; OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T0 WAYNE OIL TANK AND PUMP COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

COUNTER FOR DISPENSING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Dec. 3, 19 18.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LINNAEUS E. BAKER, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Fort ayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Counters for Dispensing A paratus, of which the following is a speci cation.

This invention relates to improvements in counters for dispensing apparatus and is intended especially as a means of indicating to'purchasers of the goods being dispensed the precise quantity in units of measurement as tie same is delivered by the apparatus. A further object is to provide a device of the kind that will show cons icuously by indicated numerals the quantity of goods as the same are dispensed by the apparatus, and also to construct the counter so that its index may be readily reset by the operator to the point of commencement without interference with the operation of the dispensing apparatus.

The above objects areaccomplished by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which 0 Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device and a ortion of a dispensing apparatus to which it is attached;

Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of the counter in a plane at right angles to that of Fig. 1. an ad acent portion of thehousing of the dispensing apparatus being included;

Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a detailed view showing a vertical section of the counter onthe line w-w of Fig. 1 including adjacent portions of the dispensing apparatus.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views and the following specification refers to the various parts by the same characters:

The present invention is constructed so as to be applied to a pump of that class usually cmplo' ed in dispensing gasolene, oils and other iquids, and especially to that type of pump that has in its construction a rpclproeating rack-bar (A) by means of which the pump is actuated. The pump proper 15 not included in the illustrations, but a portion of the actuating mechanism for the pump is included in order to show the application of theinvention thereto. The construction of the pump mechanism to which the present invention may be applied. may be in various forms, and the construction of the pump mechanism herein shown is given as an example of the type of pump mechanism with which the invention may be employed.

The pump shown has a reciprocating rackbar (A) that is ordinarily used for actuating the ump proper, and a pinion (B) is arranged in mesh with the rack-bar for transmitting movement. thereto. The pinion is fixed upon a countershaft (C) that has also fixed thereon a back-gear (D). The shaft (C) is rotatively mounted in a housing (E) designed to int-lose the caring of the pump. A drive-shaft (1% is also mounted in the housing and hasfixed thereupon a driving pinion (G) that meshes with the back-gear (D). and has also fixed .thereupon a crank (H) by means of which thedrive-shaft is actuated.

The mechanism thus described is of known construction and is of a ty e to which the present invention is applica le.

The invention is comprised of a dial (J) of circular form, bearing upon its outer face I an annular series of indicating numerals, l, 2, 3. etc.. and having associated therewith a movable index (K) and mechanism actuated by the reciprocating rack-bar of the pump for progressing the index to its various indicating positions successively accordingly as the pump is actuated. The dial is secured in the front of a case (L) that has an internal partition (M) therein through which a securing bolt (N) extends and by means of which the case is fixed to the h0using (E). A rotating member (P) having a boss (Q) upon one side thereof. and an internal annular series of notches (R) upon the opposite side, is mounted within the case between the dial and partition and with its boss extending through the dial. The index (K) is fixed to the outer end of the boss by means of a screw (S) so that the rotating member and index will revolve together. Upon the bolt (N) between the partition (M) and the housing (E) is mounted a bellcrank (T), the horizontal arm of which ex tends outwardly through a slot (U) in the side of the case and has pivoted at its outer end a pawl (V) having a'detent pin (W) projecting therefrom and adapted to engage the arm of the bell-crank so as to limit. its swinging movement relative to the arm. The other arm of the bell-crank has fixed thereto a pin (X) that extends through an elongated opening (Y) in the partition (M) of the case, and has loosely mounted thereon a ratchet (Z) that is adapted to engage the notches (R) in the rotating member and drive the latter as the bell-crank is actuated. The case (L) is held from rotating upon the.

'rotated inone direction. The pin (W), by

contacting with the horizontal arm of the bell-crank (T) prevents the pawl from being turned out of the path of the lugs when the actuating member is being rotated in one direction. Thus, as the lugs bear upwardly against thelower cnd of the pawl during the rotation of the'co'unter-shaft, the bell-crank is accordingly actuated, and throygh the medium of the ratchet (Z) the rotating member (P) and index fixed thereon are progressed from one stage'to another successively as the bell-crank is actuated. The pumping mechanism, being of the type that effects the discharge ofliquld only upon the rising movement of the rack-bar (A), it is essential that the bell-crankbe actuated during the upward stroke of the rack-bar, and it is also essential so that the index will be- I come progressed more or less as the discharge from the pumping mechanism takes v place. It is also essential that as the nn'nrea ment of the counter-shaft is reversed and the rack-bar accordingly is driven through 1 its downward movement during which. no v discharge of liquid from the pumping mechanism takes place, that the index shall therefore remain inert. During the reverse movement of the counter-shaft the lugs of the acutatin" member in bcarin a ainst the c: n n

swinging-thepawl upon its'pivotal sup adjacent facezof'the pawl have the effect of ort out of the path of the lugs so that the ellcrank remains inert.

Of course, itfis necessary to proportion the' mechanism and arrange the indicating numeralsto suit the length of the stroke of the rack-bar and the quantitive discharge of the pumping mechanism in its cycle of movement. I

In the operation of the invention the pumping mechanism is manipulated by actuating the crank (H) so that the rack-bar reaches the point of commencement of its upward or dischargestrr'ike and the index is manuallyturned-to the point at the commencement of its cycle, as at (O). Thc crank is then actuated so "that the pumping mechanism is operated in the customary manner and during the upward stroke of the rack-bar or while the discharge of the pump takes, place the index, through'the medium' of the mechanism described, becomes pro gressed'upon each actuation of the bellcrank from one inc'licat'mgnumeralto the other, thus 'signifyingin plainview of the purchaser 'the'precisequantity of liquid in 'units'of measurement the amount of liquid being discharged as the operation progresses. What I claim-is: l In a device of the class described, a case having a round" chamber therein; a cylindrical toothechrotating member located in the chamber with its external peripheral surface bearing against the inner peripheral wall -of the case; a fixed dial'holding the rotating'member Within the case, and havmg a central opening; an index having fixed relation through the opening with the ro tating member; andactuating means for progressing the rotating member. I

j In testimony whereof I aflix my signature; in presence oftwowit'ness'es. 

